A's season derailed by injuries and Kotsay calls it unlike anything he's seen

The Athletics entered the season with high hopes, and for good reason.

They had a young core of talented players and came off a season in which they put together a 35-29 record after the All-Star break. The A's also played in baseball's worst division, the AL West, which Houston ultimately won with a .500 mark.

But then the injuries happened. Mark Kotsay said Monday it was unlike anything he has seen in his five seasons as manager.

“Even as a player, I can’t recall a roster of your top five opening day players in the lineup going down and not having them for 60-plus games,” said Kotsay, who played 17 big league seasons.

The injuries — as well as a pitching staff that struggled to keep balls inside the Athletics' temporary, hitter-friendly Triple-A stadium in West Sacramento, California — took a toll. Instead of making a playoff run, the A's went 64-98. Only Colorado and the Los Angeles Angels posted worse records.

“We didn’t win enough games and we’re not satisfied with the overall results,” interim general manager Dan Feinstein said. “We came into the year expecting to contend, and obviously that didn’t happen. At the same time, we made real progress in some important areas, and we saw continued growth from a number of our young players who were frankly thrust into some unexpected roles.”

Feinstein pointed specifically to infielders Zack Gelof and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and outfielder Henry Bolte making the most of their chances, which could benefit the A's when they play their scheduled third and final season in Sacramento before the club's planned move to Las Vegas in 2028.

A potential lockout hangs over the start of next season, but Feinstein said the A's are proceeding as if everything is on schedule.

This season showed the unexpected could certainly create negative consequences.

Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom were on the injured list for a combined 340 games. Only Langeliers among that group finished the season, and the catcher did it as a designated hitter.

The A's also placed infielder Max Muncy on the IL with a knee injury last week.

Starting pitcher Luis Severino was placed on the IL on May 30 because of strained right shoulder and never took the mound again. Severino signed a $67 million, three-year contract in December 2024, but can opt out after this season. The right-hander is 10-17 with a 4.43 ERA in his short time with the A's.

“It’s ultimately his decision,” Feinstein said. “I don’t want to get ahead of it. We’ve enjoyed having him here and once he makes his decision, we’ll have a better sense of what the next steps are.”

As far as next steps with other players, Kurtz and Rooker took batting practice late in the season and Kotsay said he expected a “normal” offseason for them. Wilson and Soderstrom are going through the rehabilitation process through winter, and Muncy's knee needs to be “further evaluated,” the manager said.

Feinstein said the A's, as they routinely do, will evaluate every aspect of their organization now that the season is over, including the training and medical staffs.

But Kotsay said there wasn't a unifying reason why the A's had some many players get hurt.

“For Luis Severino going out and playing the WBC, you always question the intensity that he threw at so early in the year as to possibly leading to his injury,” Kotsay said. “Shea Langeliers was a specific play. Tyler Soderstrom was a specific play.

“So if we're looking at strength and conditioning, training staff, medical as a cause, I think you have to look at the injury specific as opposed to the training methods. Generally, the training methods lead to muscle strains, in particular lower-half hamstrings, things of that nature. Correct me if I'm wrong, but elbow, things like of that nature in our arm care programs have held up really well in this organization.”

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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay, right, argues a call at first base with umpire Jordan Baker, left, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Athletics' Shea Langeliers, right, walks back to the dugout as Cleveland Guardians' Patrick Bailey, left, looks on after a strikeout by Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith for the final out of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After saying that Kirill Marchenko would be with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the start of the season, general manager Don Waddell dealt the forward as part of a major seven-player deal to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday as NHL teams were finalizing their opening week rosters.

The Blue Jackets also dealt goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and left wing Miles Wood to the Maple Leafs for left wing Matthew Knies, defenseman Emil Andrae, center Steven Lorentz and a conditional second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Marchenko was in the last year of his contract, but agreed to a six-year $75 million extension with the Maple Leafs. He relayed to Columbus' front office before the draft in June that he didn't intend to sign an extension with the Blue Jackets.

Waddell said the situation with Marchenko and star defenseman Zach Werenski were not the same. The Norris Trophy winner also said during the offseason he wasn't ready to sign an extension, but also vetoed a trade to the Dallas Stars.

“I’ve had discussions with his agent, which we won’t discuss right now, but Marchenko’s going to be a Blue Jackets when the season starts,” Waddell said on July 2.

The 26-year old Russian was a second-round pick by the Blue Jackets in the 2018 draft. He didn't make his NHL debut until 2022, but tied or led the team in scoring the past three seasons.

Marchenko had a team-high 27 goals last season and was second in points with 67. He had 102 goals and 208 points during his four seasons in Columbus.

In Knies, the Blue Jackets get a forward who battled injuries last season, but still finished with a career-best 66 points, including 23 goals. He is expected to be on one of the top two scoring lines.

The 23-year-old Knies was previously viewed as an important piece of Toronto’s future. He had a career-high 29 goals and 58 points in 2024-25 playing on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

“Matthew is a big, strong power forward who combines tough, hard-nosed physical play with outstanding offensive skills,” Waddell said in a statement after the trade was announced. “He is a young player with great character and work ethic and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to the Blue Jackets family.”

Merzlikins is currently on long-term injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He had a 14-11-3 record with a 3.40 goals-against average and .993 save percentage in 30 appearances last season as a backup to Blue Jackets starter Jet Greaves.

Wood, recently put on waivers, has 99 goals and 97 assists in 567 career games with New Jersey, Colorado and Columbus.

Lorentz, a Stanley Cup winner with the Florida Panthers in 2024, had 15 goals and 22 assists over two seasons in Toronto.

Andrae ended a very short tenure in Toronto. He was acquired in a June trade with Philadelphia. Andrae had three goals and 17 assists over 107 games with the Flyers, who selected him in the second round of the 2020 NHL draft.

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FILE - Columbus Blue Jackets' Kirill Marchenko plays against the St. Louis Blues during an NHL hockey game on Jan. 4, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)